Special Focus
  • Human Rights in Burma

    Burma showed signs of change in 2012, but the government still failed to seriously address the dire human rights situation in the country. The new government, dominated by the military and former generals, has released hundreds of political prisoners, enacted laws on forming trade unions and freedom of assembly, eased official media censorship, and allowed the opposition to register and contest by-elections. However, hundreds of political prisoners remain, ethnic civil war and inter-ethnic conflict has escalated, and Burmese security forces continue to use forced labor and commit extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, among other abuses. 

  • Buddhist monks take part in a protest in support of demonstrators who were injured during a copper mine riot, in Yangon December 12, 2012.
    © 2012 Reuters
    Burma: Investigate Violent Crackdown on Mine Protesters

    The government of Burma should promptly and impartially investigate alleged excessive force by local authorities against peaceful anti-copper mine protesters.

More news »

Featured Content

    • Burma: Promises of Reform
      Nov 23 2011 - 14:33

      You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialize correctly.
    Burma Releases Political Prisoners
    Burma: War Crimes Against Convict Porters
    World Report 2012: Burma
Subscribe to content feed

Reports

More >>

Burma

  • Burma: Investigate Violent Crackdown on Mine Protesters
    Dec 1, 2012

    The government of Burma should promptly and impartially investigate alleged excessive force by local authorities against peaceful anti-copper mine protesters.

  • Why Delhi should care about the Rohingya
    Nov 30, 2012

    Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to India this month spotlighted the shared histories between the two nations and the need for a stronger alliance between them. A new reform agenda and Suu Kyi’s election to parliament offers New Delhi a chance to recalibrate its Burma policy to include greater focus on human rights, rule of law and democratic governance.

  • Civil Society Denounces Adoption of Flawed ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
    Nov 19, 2012
    Disregarding the deep concerns expressed by senior United Nations officials, human rights experts and hundreds of civil society and grassroots organisations at the national, regional and international levels, ASEAN leaders nonetheless adopted yesterday an “ASEAN Human Rights Declaration” that undermines, rather than affirms, international human rights law and standards.
  • A bridge too far for Obama, crossed too early, in Myanmar
    Nov 18, 2012
    Barack Obama's visit to Myanmar, the first by a sitting American president, is predominantly symbolic but he's going for all the right reasons at the wrong time.
  • Burma: Satellite Images Show Widespread Attacks on Rohingya
    Nov 17, 2012

    Attacks and arson in late October by ethnic Arakanese against Rohingya Muslims in Burma’s Arakan State were at times carried out with the support of state security forces and local government officials.

  • Burma: Obama Visit Underscores Rights Challenges
    Nov 16, 2012

    United States President Barack Obama’s visit to Burma will be a success only if it generates concrete and lasting steps toward improving human rights in the country.

  • Race to the bottom: Burma and Vietnam head in opposite directions on human rights
    Nov 7, 2012
  • Burma: New Violence in Arakan State
    Oct 26, 2012

    The government of Burma should take immediate steps to stop sectarian violence against the Rohingya Muslim population in Arakan State, in western Burma, and ensure protection and aid to both Rohingyas and Arakanese in the state.

  • Recommendations for the Asian Development Bank in Drafting Re-engagement Strategy for Burma
    Oct 7, 2012
    As the ADB re-engages in Burma, it has a rare opportunity to shape the development agenda by pressing for enhanced transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. Experience has shown that if these reforms do not take place early in a transition, they are much more difficult to achieve later on. The ADB should ensure the right sequence, priorities, and safeguards for its programs in Burma.
  • Letter to the World Bank Group Regarding Re-engagement with Burma
    Oct 3, 2012
    We write to you to share our recommendations for the World Bank Group as it re-engages with Burma. The Group has a rare opportunity to shape the development agenda in Burma by pressing for enhanced transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights through the re-engagement process. Experience elsewhere has shown that if these reforms do not take place early in a transition, they are much more difficult to achieve later on. The Group should ensure the proper sequencing, priorities, and safeguards for its programs in Burma.
more documents on this topic »